Cyber sex charges brought against Williamson man

Rachel BaldwinWilliamson Daily News

April 9, 2013

Rachel Baldwin

Staff Writer

WILLIAMSON - The troopers assigned to the Williamson Detachment of the West Virginia State Police (WVSP) are on a mission to protect the children of Mingo County from sexual predators. A recent arrest is definite proof that their investigations are on the right track.

Jonathon Berry, 20, of Gum Street in Williamson, was taken into custody by WVSP Trooper T.G. Kania on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, prohibiting child erotica, soliciting a minor via the internet and use of obscene matter with intent to seduce a minor.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Mingo County Magistrate Court, from Dec. 25, 2012 to Feb. 27, 2013, the defendant did engage in an online relationship with a 13 year-old victim. Berry allegedly solicited the female to engage in sexual acts by chat and video conversation and is said to have multiple conversations of a sexual nature in which the defendant solicited the victim for sex.

Trooper Kania discovered in the course of his investigation that Berry also received a naked picture of the breasts of the victim, as well as multiple photographs of the teen in her underwear. The defendant also, according to the arrest report, sent a nude photo of his penis to the victim via online messages.

Berry was arraigned before Mingo County Chief Magistrate Dallas Toler and was remanded to the custody of the Southwestern Regional Jail at Holden on a $62,000 full-cash bond. Berry appeared in court on Tuesday for his preliminary hearing and waived his right to a speedy trial. The defendant was represented in court by Attorney Joshua Ferrell. The case will be presented to the April Grand Jury for consideration of indictment.